Carrying bag



Nov. 12, 1968 H. A. BENZEL 3,410,376

CARRYING BAG Filed Jan. 5, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Jiba/arc( (Z BQHZQZ ATTORNEYS.

H. A. BENZEL Nov. 12, 1968 CARRY ING BAG 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 `Filed Jan.

1NVENTOR..

ATTUZE'NEYS.

Nov. 12, 1968 Filed Jan. 5, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. j-Znward BenzeZ A TTOFNEKS'.

H. A. BENzr-:L 3,410,376

CARRYING BAG United States Patent O 3,410,376 CARRYING BAG Howard A. Benzel, Lancaster, N.Y., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Automatic Sprinkler Corporation of America, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Jan. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 606,817 9 Claims. (Cl. 190-44) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The carrying bag has a main enclosure and a convertible auxiliary section including a detachable panel carrying a collapsible bag. The panel is mounted on an external side wall of the main enclosure and is reversible between stored and use positions of the collapsible bag. The collapsible bag is detachable from the panel.

Background of the invention This invention relates generally to the carrying bag art and in particular to a bag having a main compartment and a convertible auxiliary compartment.

It is often desirous to segregate relatively bulky items such as cameras, golf shoes or the like from articles carried in the main compartment of a bag. This is particularly so in the type of bag commonly known as an attache or brief case wherein the available carrying space is limited. Bags of this type are relatively inflexible and are often provided with a single compartiment which bulky items are comingled within papers, folders or the like with the result that the latter often becomes wrinkled, or otherwise damaged. Separate compartments within bags of this type ha-ve been proposed but these do not provide the requisite additional space for larger, bulkier items, and further limit the available carrying space in a particular bag.

Other conventional bags provide externally accessible side pockets or detachable side bags which project laterally from the main compartment of the bag and which usually are not constructed to carry bulky items. If such bulky items are placed in these side pockets or bags the latter, in addition to the main compartment, would provide a bag of vastly increased overall bulk resulting in an unwieldly and unsightly bag. These side pockets or bags also become useless projections appurtenant from the main compartment when not in use.

Summary of the invention Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a fbag having a main compartment and an auxiliary compartment wherein the auxiliary compartment is adapted to carry relatively bulky items.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bag having a main compartment and a detachable auxiliary compartment wherein the available carrying space of the bag is increased when the auxiliary compartment is detached.

-It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a bag having a main compartment and an auxiliary compartment reversible between a normally collapsed unemployed position and an externally accessible and extended carrying position without ifmpairing the carrying capacity of the main compartment in either position of the auxiliary compartment.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a Ibag having the foregoing characteristics wherein the overall bulk of the (bag is not significantly increased with the auxiliary bag detached or in the unemployed position and wherein the bag retains its capability to provide additional carrying space when needed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide 3,410,376 Patented Nov. l2, 1968 a bag having the -foregoing characteristics wherein the auxiliary compartment is readily, conveniently and easily reversed.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a compound bag having the foregoing characteristics which is easily and inexpensively constructed and which is sightly in appearance with the auxiliary bag in either position or detached.

In one aspect thereof, a bag of the present invention is characterized by the provision of spaced side walls and a peripheral wall extending between the side walls forming a lmain enclosure, means for gaining access within the enclosure, a detachable side panel secured to one of the side walls, and a liexible auxiliary ibag secured to the panel and collapsible into a stored position against the one side wall, the panel ybeing reversibly secured to one side wall whereby the lflexible bag may be extended into a carrying position.

Various other novel features of` construction and advantages inherent in the 'bag construction of the present invention are pointed out in detail in the following description of a typical embodiment thereof considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings depicting the same wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the various views.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. l is a side elevational view of a bag constructed in accordance with one form of the present invention shown with the auxiliary compartment thereof mounted in external, carrying position;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view thereof taken about on line 4-4 of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional View thereof with the auxiliary compartment shown in a collapsed, stored position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view thereof with the auxiliary compartment detached;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the separable side panel; and

FIG. 8 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken albout on line 8-8 of FIG. l.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a bag 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention and comprising a pair of recessed, generally rectangular, halves or sections 11 and 12 preferably formed of a synthetic plastic material and having mating reinforcing metal bands 13 secured about their juxtaposed peripheries. Sections 11 and 12 are hinged together along their lower sides by a pair of spaced hinges 14 and are releasably latched together `along their opposite, upper sides by a pair of spaced toggle type fasteners 16, of known construction, to provide a main bag enclosure or compartment. A handle 15 is suitably secured to the top 0f bag section 12 and a pair of spaced support feet 18` are secured to the lower side of each bag section adjacent their outer faces for standing bag 10 in upright position as shown in FIGS. l, 3 and 4. The lower side face of fbag section |11 is of corrugated for-rn to provide a plurality of reinforcing ribs 19.

The side face of bag section 12 is formed to provide a generally rectangular, shallow recess 20 of stepped form having a base portion 21 inwardly offset by a surrounding wall 21 from a shoulder 22 parallel to base 21 and inwardly oifset Ifrom the outer face of section 12 by a surrounding wall 22. Shoulder 22 thereby provides a recessed abutment against which a panel 23 bears. A pair of spaced slot formations 24 open through the upper wall Q 22 of recess 20 outwardly of shoulder 22. A fastener 25 is secured in a narrow groove centrally located in a Wider, shallower groove 28 formed through the lower,

VVV-Moutwardly facing margin of section 12 medially of its length, the narrow groove being designated 26. Fastener 25 is of known construction and includes an oblong, rotatable, spring-biased clamphead 27 which seats in a grooved, oblong ibase portion 29.

Side panel 23 comprises a fiat, generally rectangular, base portion 3() encircled by a rim wall 31 to form a recess 33. A marginal dangle 32 projects outwardly from rim 31, parallel to base portion 3G. A pair of spaced, integral tabs 34 project outwardly from flange 32 along the Iupper side thereof and are adapted for insertion into the similarly spaced slot formations 24. An integral ear formation 35 projects outwardly from ange 32 along the lower side of panel 23 and has an oblong aperture therethrough for receiving the grooved base portion 29 and clamp head 27 of fastener 25 when panel 23 is ecured to bag 1t).

A iiexible, auxiliary lbag 38 is secured within recess 33 of panel 23 as by a plurality of snap fasteners 39 which secure the panel oase portion 30 to a rigid rectangular panel 41 forming the bottom of bag 38. In the preferred embodiment, lbag 38 is formed of a flexible, synthetic plastic material having a medial zipper 43 for gaining access into the bag in the usual manner. However, it will be understood that other iiexible or collapsible material such as leather, cloth or the like and other fastening devices such as straps, etc., may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention.

To secure side panel 23 and its associated auxiliary bag 3S in the unemployed stored position illustrated in FIG. 5, bag 38 is folded against its bottom panel 41 to collapse a portion of bag 33 within panel recess 33, and panel 23 is positioned so that bag 33 faces base portion 21 of bag section 12. Tabs 34 are slip inserted into slots 24 and bag 3S is compressed between base portions 21 and 30 so that panel iiange 32 seats against shoulder 22 with recesses 20 and 31 complementarily providing an auxiliary bag storage compartment. Ear formation 35 engages in the larger outer groove 28 with base portion 29 and claim 27 of fastener 25 projecting outwardly through aperture 36, and panel 23 is locked to bag section 12 by rotating clamp 27 to the position seen in FIG. l. With bag 33 thus stored, panel base portion 3G projects slightly beyond the side face of section 12 with the head portions of fasteners 39 providing bag supports when bag 10 is laid flat on a supporting surface.

To utilize the Ibag with both the main enclosure and l auxiliary bag forming separate carrying compartments, side panel 23 is removed and reversed to the position illustrated in FIG. 4. Tabs 34 are again inserted through slots 24 and panel 23 nests in recess 20 with the underside of iiange 32 bearing against shoulder 22. Ear formation 35 engages in g-roove 28 with fastener 25 projecting through aperture 36, and clamp 27 is rotated again to lock panel 23 to bag section 12. In this position, bag 38 extends outwardly of bag 10 to provide a usable, externally accessible auxiliary carrying compartment which has sufiicient length and depth to accommodate the bulky items of the type hereinbefore discussed.

Auxiliary bag 38 may also be detached from panel 23, as illustrated in FIG. 6, by unsnapping the same frcm base portion 30. This permits bag 38 to be used elsewhere and increases the available carrying space when the auxiliary bag is not needed since the space between base portion `21 and 30 may serve as an additional carrying space for papers or the like.

It is thus apparent that the objects of my invention have been fulfilled. There is provided a bag having a main section and a readily convertible section. When bag 38 is detached or in the stored position illustrated respectively in FIGS 5 and 6, the external appearance of bag 10 is substantially similar to that of a conventional bag of this type. Also, the laternal bulk of 4'nag 10 has not been significantly increased in either of these positions yet bag 10 retains the capability of readily and easily providing additional carrying space for relatively bulky items when required. Moreofver, due to the nested relation of panel 23 in recess 2t) when bag 38 is in the external carrying position illustrated in FIG. 4, the overall bulk of the -bag is significantly reduced than would be the clase if the auxiliary bag was merely fixed to the side of a bag of this type.

What I claim as new is:

l.. A bag having spaced side walls and a peripheral wall extending between said side walls forming a main enclosure, means Afor gaining access within said enclosure, a detachable side panel secured to one of said side walls, and a flexible auxiliary bag secured to said panel on one side face thereof and collapsible into a stored position against said one side wall, said panel being reversible on said one side wall whereby said tiexible bag can be extended into an externally accessible carrying position.

2. A bag according to claim 1 wherein said one side wall has a shallow outwardly opening recess, and auxiliary bag being collapsible into said recess in stored position.

3. A bag according to claim 1 wherein said panel has an inwardly opening recess, said auxiliary bag being collapsible into said recess.

4. A -bag according to claim 3 wherein said one side wall has a shallow outwardly opening recess, said recesses opening toward one another to complementarily provide a storage compartment for said auxiliary bag when in said stored position.

5. A bag according to claim 4 wherein said panel nests within said side Wall recess when said panel and auxiliary bag are reversed.

6. A bag according to claim 1 including complementary fastening means adjacent opposite edges of said panel and on said one side wall for securing said panel to said one side wall with the auxiliary bag in stored position, said fastening means `also being adapted to secure said panel to said one side wall in the reversed position of said panel.

7. A Ibag according to claim 6 wherein said fastening means includes a pair of tabs extending from one edge of said panel and a pair of complementary slots in said one side wall for receiving said tabs, together with locking means interconnecting said panel and said one side wall along the opposite edge of said panel.

8. A bag according to claim 1 wherein said liexible bag is releasably secured to said panel.

9. A bag according to claim 1 wherein said side Walls are substantially flat, rectangular and parallel with said peripheral wall being split lengthwise to lform opposite bag halves, said halves being hinged along said bottom wall and releasably fastened together at the top wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 523,503 7/1894 Alberschardt 190-44 930,032 8/1909 Billburg et al. 190-52 2,300,259 10/1942 Kueppers 2205 FOREIGN PATENTS 378,477 6/ 1964 Switzerland.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. 

